What's In A Name

    Our Bible Curriculum this year covers all of the names for Jesus and their meanings. So during the first week of school, the parents were to write a letter about why we chose our child's name. I decided to do this for my two oldest, and will do this for the other little ones when they get older. Choosing a name is a huge deal to me, so I thought this was a great idea and wanted to make it into something extra special. I found a really cool website, and ordered the boys bracelets with their names and Bible verses engraved on them. The Bible verses went along with their names as I explained in their letters.
     On the day we presented the boys with their letters and bracelets, they were very excited. We did it on a Sunday morning, and they got to wear their bracelets to church.


     Here is Silas' letter.

Here is Camden's letter.

Here are their bracelets.

 This was a really good activity suggested by My Father's World, because it set the stage for the year. It helped the boys to understand how important they are as individuals to God and to us. It also helps them to see that all of the names Jesus is called by have special meanings that show us who He is and what He is able to do.



School's Out For The Summer.....NOT!!!

     Right around the time school was out, I brought home Silas' curriculum for the next school year. This is the second year now that you would have thought it was Christmas in our house when I brought it in! Silas looked all through the box, and had me read the back of all of our read aloud books for the year. Then out came the question that I'd started to guess was coming.
     "Mom, can we start school tomorrow?" I explained that we had just finished and needed a break. He looked so pitiful. I then started thinking that with a new baby coming it may not be a bad idea. If I needed to take some time off, I wouldn't get too far off schedule. Plus, why not do school while he's enthusiastic about it and take a break when he's not? So, two weeks later, we started school. Of course, with summer camps, trips, and VBS we only got in a few scattered weeks. That's summer for you! It just made him more excited about all of it. Now we are back into the groove of our regular school year. At least until baby comes, that is.
     This is my third year of official homeschooling. (I say "official", because don't we all teach our children at home from birth?) Each year, I love it more and more. I am so glad that the Lord led us down this path, even though I sometimes have fears about me failing the kids in some way (that probably needs to be a whole different blog post). But, I am learning and growing in my teaching and confidence. So, I am just as excited, and maybe even more sometimes, each morning when it's time to start! I think that it is important for kids to see their parents' love and enthusiasm for learning. It definitely seems to rub off on mine. Having a curriculum that fits both the parents and children is definitely a must. I am so glad we have found our match. This is the stuff we get to dive into this year. Of course, the language and math are not pictured, but I'm really excited about those as well.